As expected, Presidential Electors pledged to George Washington were elected throughout the nation on 1/7/1789. In the six states with a popular election, Federalist Electors won by a 41-3 margin. In CT and GA, the legislature chose the Electors. In SC, the legislators were authorized to meet in Charleston on the appointed date and make the choice; about 30% of the legislators bothered to appear. In NJ, the Governor appointed the Electors.

Lobbying the Electors

The lopsided defeat of the Anti-Federalists led to the first round of political intrigue in casting the electoral votes. Alexander Hamilton, who had managed Washington’s campaign, realized that if Electors in New England held back some votes from Washington, it was possible that Adams could be elected president and Washington VP. He corresponded with associates in other states about this issue, and a plan was developed. Hamilton dispatched men to each state to lobby the Electors to withhold a few votes from Adams to ensure his second place finish. Samuel B. Webb, Hamilton’s surrogate in CT, did not arrive on the scene until the date of the meeting of the Electors.

The Electoral Vote

The Presidential Electors met in the various state capitals on 2/4/1789 to cast the electoral vote. Unlike elections in the twenty first century, the Electors included a large number of the leading political leaders and thinkers of the day, in

As expected, Presidential Electors pledged to George Washington were elected throughout the nation on 1/7/1789. In the six states with a popular election, Federalist Electors won by a 41-3 margin. In CT and GA, the legislature chose the Electors. In SC, the legislators were authorized to meet in Charleston on the appointed date and make the choice; about 30% of the legislators bothered to appear. In NJ, the Governor appointed the Electors.

Lobbying the Electors

The lopsided defeat of the Anti-Federalists led to the first round of political intrigue in casting the electoral votes. Alexander Hamilton, who had managed Washington’s campaign, realized that if Electors in New England held back some votes from Washington, it was possible that Adams could be elected president and Washington VP. He corresponded with associates in other states about this issue, and a plan was developed. Hamilton dispatched men to each state to lobby the Electors to withhold a few votes from Adams to ensure his second place finish. Samuel B. Webb, Hamilton’s surrogate in CT, did not arrive on the scene until the date of the meeting of the Electors.

The Electoral Vote

The Presidential Electors met in the various state capitals on 2/4/1789 to cast the electoral vote. Unlike elections in the twenty first century, the Electors included a large number of the leading political leaders and thinkers of the day, including James Wilson. The Electors in each state chose two officers: a chairman to preside over the proceedings, and a messenger, who would deliver a certificate of the electoral vote to New York City. Then each Elector cast two votes for President of the United States. The votes were tallied in each state, and the Electors signed the certificate of vote for the messenger to deliver.

Note: one district in VA did not report, so the Governor did not certify an Elector for that district. Three Electors failed to appear to cast their votes: two in MD and an additional Elector in VA.

The results of the electoral vote were announced immediately in local newspapers. A MA paper wrote that the Electors "gave in their votes unanimously, for His Excellency Geo. Washington, Esq., and the Hon. John Adams, Esq., as President and Vice President of the United States." This report suggests that although the Electors were supposed to be casting two votes for President, they in fact intended for their "first" vote to be for President and the "second" vote for Vice President.

Joint Session of Congress, 1789

The messengers left their various states on 2/8/1789 to present their certificates of vote to be read by the first Congress. They handed the electoral vote certificates to Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress. Thomson was mostly inactive; the Continental Congress last assembled on 10/10/1788, though members continued to check in his office as late as 3/2/1789 to see what matters of business needed attention. The First Federal Congress was scheduled to meet on 3/4/1789, but in fact a quorum did not exist until 4/6/1789. After organizing the U.S. House and Senate, the two bodies met in joint session to count the electoral votes (4/6/1789). Thomson delivered the ten certificates to be read. John Langdon presided over the proceedings, which took place in the U.S. Senate chamber (NYC Daily Advertiser, 4/7/1789). The secretary of the Senate recorded as the certificate of each state was read, beginning with New Hampshire and proceeding south along the Atlantic Coast. The result: Washington was elected with one vote from each Elector. John Adams placed second and was elected Vice President. At that point, James Madison addressed the assembled Senators and Representatives. Thomson was appointed to inform Washington of his election and thus bring the history of the Confederation Congress to a close.

Adams was sworn in as VP on 4/21/1789, and Washington was sworn as President on 4/30/1789 (the last day of the election for Governor in NY).

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